Scaffolding



May 9, 1967 R. L. MEEK 3,318,414

SCAFFOLD I NG Filed Aug. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RALPH L.MEEK

kalwmm ATTORNEYS May 9, 1967 R. L. MEEK S CAFFOLDI NG Filed Aug. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH L.MEEK

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,318,414 SCAFFOLDING Ralph L. Meek, 1441 Larkin Williams, F enton, Mo. 63026 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,494 9 Claims. (Cl. 182115) The present invention relates generally to improvements in scaffolding, and more particularly to improved access means leading to and interconnected with a work platform adjustable as to height in a scaffolding system. The scaffolding system, having the desirable characteristic of allowing the work platform to be raised and lowered without dismantling the scaffolding, has proved to be of great value in building construction work because of the economy involved in readily relocating workmen and material without the necessity of work stoppage.

One feature of scaffolding which has been lacking up to this time has been a simple and effective means of access to the work platform which has the desirable characteristics of remaining in location and in use while the height-adjusting process of the work platform on the scaffolding is being effectuated.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide scaffolding having a means of access which remains stable and operative during the raising and lowering of the work platform, as well as before and after such height adjustment.

Another important object is achieved by providing a means of access to the work platform of a scaffolding which does not require dismantling while the height-adjusting process of the work platform is taking place.

Still another important object is realized by the provision of a pair of tracks, each having a plurality of clips along its length, which can be quickly and easily connected by the clips to the spaced, substantially parallel stringers of a standard ladder, constructed of wood or metal. An advantage is obtained by using the tracks in conjunction with a pair of interconnecting cantilever support arms attached to the height-adjustable work platform of the scafiold, whereby the ladder is held in an upright position.

Another important object is attained by providing an anchor means at the foot of the ladder for preventing the ladder from slipping out of position, thus cooperating with the connection between the tracks and support arms to maintain the ladder in an operable position.

An important object is achieved by the provision of support arms attached to the adjustable work platform which are readily removed and quickly replaced in a different location along the length of the platform such that the access ladder may be speedily relocated at any desired position where access may be required to the work platform of the scaffold.

Yet another important object is realized in that the interconnecting support arms, attached to the height-adjustable work platform, are provided with hooks that embrace and slidably engage oppositely and laterally eX- tending flanges of the tracks so that the support arms ride freely on the tracks in a vertical direction upon adjustment of the work platform, yet support the tracks, and hence the ladder, in an operable position adjacent the work platform.

Another important objective is afforded by the provision of a scaffold tower on which a carriage is m-ovably mounted for height adjustment, and of a work platform carried by and movable with the carriage, the platform having a masons platform portion at one side of the tower and having a material platform portion at the opposite side. The access ladder extends upwardly to a position adjacent the material platform portion. Means are pro- 'ice vided to interconnect the access ladder and the material work platform portion slidably to maintain connection between the material platform portion and the ladder and to maintain access to the material platform portion from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

It is an important objective to provide a combined scaffolding and ladder arrangement and interconnection that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, efficient in operation, and which will cooperate and function automatically upon raising or lowering the work platform.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the general arrangement of the scaffolding and access ladder;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, illustrating the connection between the cantilever support arms and the ladder stringer tracks;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the track and connection clips;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating the cantilever support arm in greater detail;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the scaffold carriage, and an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of the scaffold tower on which the carriage is mounted, and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, front elevational view illustrating the scaffolding system utilizing the access ladder.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the scaffolding includes a pair of tracks generally indicated by 10 attached to a ladder referred to by 11, and twin cantilever support arms indicated by 12 secured to and movable with a work platform 13 and carriage 14 which ride reciprocatively on the vertical scaffolding tower 15, the twin cantilever support arms 12 following the movement of the carriage 14 while at the same time supporting the ladder 11 and attached tracks 10 in an upright position.

The scaffold tower 15 includes a series of interfitting, elongate truss sections, the number of which depends upon the height of the wall 16 to be constructed, each truss section being of substantially triangular cross section. The tower 15 is provided with an elongate, braced base 17 extending on opposite sides of the tower 15 to ensure stability. A cable hook 20 is built into the upper truss section of the tower 15 in order that the carriage 14 may be raised as high as practicable on any tower 15 of preportion 21 and the attached frame arms 22 and 23 are located in a substantially horizontal plane.

Located below the frame portion 21 is a substantially triangular-shaped portion 24 adapted to receive and slidably embrace the correspondingly shaped cross section of tower 15. The frame portions 21 and 24 are interconnected by vertical rods 25 and 26 at opposite sides of the tower 15. A diagonal brace 27 extends between and is attached to the triangular-shaped frame portion 24 and the laterally extending frame arm 22. Another diagonal brace 30, extends between and isattached to the triangular-shaped frame portion 24 and the laterally extending frame arm 23.

An outrigger extension arm 31 is attached to one side of the triangular-shaped frame portion 24, and extends laterally outward from one side .of the tower in :a substantially horizontal plane for a distance beyond the end of the frame arm 23, the extension arm31 being aligned immediately below the frame arm 23 in substantially the same vertical plane, The frame arm 23 and extension 31 are rigidly interconnected by a vertical brace 32 and also by the diagonal brace 30.

When in use, a plurality of scaffold towers 15 are arranged in spaced, side by side relation. Each of these towers 15 carries a reciprocating carriage 14, the carriages 14 of adjacent towers 15 being disposed at substantially the same height to support a work platform 13 therebetween. Specifically, the work platform 13 includes a material platform portion 33 seating on the horizontal frame arms 22 and 23, and includes a masons platform portion 34 seating on the outrigger extension arm 31. It will be noted that the material platform portion 33 extends outwardly from one side of the tower 15 while the masons platform portion 34 extends laterally outward from the opposite side for disposition close to the building wall 16.

The carriage 14 is provided With a built-in winch and drum mechanism 35 which provides positive control of the raising and lowering of the carriage 14 and work platform 13. The raisingand lowering of the carriage 14 is accomplished by means of a cable 36 passing upwardly from the carriage winch and drum mechanism 35 over a pulley 37, attached by bracket 40 to the upper tip of the tower 15 and attached by cable 41 to hook 20, and returning to the winch and drum mechanism 35. By turning the winch handle 42, the carriage 14 is selectively raised or lowered. A gravity safety stop 43 is attached to the triangular-shaped frame portion 24 of carriage 14 and is adapted to engage cross bracing 44 of tower 15 to provide protection against unintentional slippage of the carriage 14, such protection being in addition to that provided by winch 35 through the mechanical governor positively controlling drum rotation speed.

The ladder 11 is of conventional construction, consisting of a pair of elongate, laterally spaced .and parallel stringers 45 interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontal rungs 46. The ladder 11 is disposed in an upright position substantially parallel to the vertical scaffold tower 15, the lower end of the ladder 11 seating on the subjacent supporting surface, such as the ground. The ladder 11 extends upwardly to a position closely adjacent the outside edge of the material platform portion 33, and extends to a height that approximates the height of tower 15, and certainly extends at least to the maximum height to which the material platform portion 33 israised on the tower 15.

Each track 10 is preferably a unitary elongate, T- shaped section having a leg 47 and side flanges 50. A plurality of substantially U-shaped clips '51 are welded or otherwise attached to the outstanding leg 47 of the T- shaped track 10 at suitably spaced intervals, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. One of the tracks 10 is fixed to each stringer 45 of the ladder 11. The tracks 10 extend the full length of the ladder 11. The clips 51 of each track 10 are conveniently nailed, or otherwise attached, to the associated stringer 45 of the ladder 11.

The structure of the cantilever support arm 12 is best illustrated in FIG. 4, and in the preferred embodiment shown, includes an elongate, rectangular plate 52 having a plurality of holes 53 spaced at alternate intervals along the length of plate 52 such that the plate 52 can be conveniently nailed, or otherwise attached to the material platform portion 33.

V The pair of support arms 12 are secured to the material positioned so that their outermost ends 54 project over and beyond the material platform portion 33, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The outermost ends 54 are bifurcated to provide substantially T-shaped slots 55 receiving the compatible, T-shaped tracks 10. The interfitting connection of the T-shaped tracks 10 in the T-shaped slots 55 enable the support arms 12 to slide along the tracks 10 incident to adjusting the height of the Work platform 13 by raising or lowering the carriage 14 on the tower 15, and yet hold the ladder 11 in an upright position. More particularly, the T-shaped slot 55 in the end 54 of each support arm 12 is formed by a pair of inwardly-turned hooks 56 spaced apart at their outer ends to provide a gap 57 of sufficient width to receive slidably the leg 47 of the cooperating T-shaped track 10. The inwardly-turned hooks 56 embrace and slidably engage the side flanges 50 of the associated T-shaped track 10.

When the ladder 11 is raised to the upright position and the tracks 10 are slidably interconnected to the support arms 12, the lower end of the ladder 11 is anchored to the supporting surface by a suitable anchorage means to prevent lateral displacement. This anchorage means, in the shown embodiment, consists of base pegs 60 attached to the ladder 11 and driven into the ground.

It is thought that the functional advantages of this scaffolding and associated access ladder 11 have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the installation and usage of the scaffolding and ladder will be briefly described.

To install the scaffold, the tower base 17 is located at ground level, as shown in FIG. 1. The carriage 14 is held in position above base 17 and the truss section of tower 15 is inserted through the openings provided in the upper and lower frame portions 21 and 24 of carriage 14, the truss section then being securely fastened to the tower base 17. The carriage 14 may now be raised or lowered freely on the tower 15. Additional truss sections are interconnected until the requisite working height of tower 15 is achieved, which approximates the height of wall 16 to be constructed.

The pulley 37 is attached to the top of tower 15 by bracket 40 and by attachment of cable 41 to hook 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The flexible cable 36 from the carriage winch and drum mechanism 35 is passed around pulley 37 and returned to the cable winch and drum mechanism 35 in the conventional manner. Actuating the winch mechanism 35 by rotating the winch handle 42 enables the carriage 14 to be raised or lowered vertically along the length of the tower 15.

When two or more towers 15, complete with their respective carriages 14, are placed in line and braced together to form a scaffolding system, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6, the material platform portion 33 and the masons platform portion 34 span the carriages 14. The carriages 14, and hence the work platform 13, are then raised to the desired work level.

The tracks 10 are connected to the stringers 45 of the ladder 11 by interfitting the U-shaped clips 51 over the stringers 45 and driving nails through the holes 49 provided in clips 51. The pro-assembled ladder and track unit is now raised into an upright position at any location along the length of the material platform portion 33, the lower end of the ladder 11 being secured against relative horizontal movement by driving base pegs 60 into the ground. It is understood that any suitable clamping means may be substituted for the base pegs 60 to accomplish the same purpose if the ladder 11 is situated on hard ground or concrete. The ladder 11 extends upwardly to a height at least to the upper level or limit to which the material platform portion 33 is raised during construction of wall 16 The T-shaped slots 55 at the ends of the cantilever support arms 12 are aligned with and slidably interfitted over the T-shaped tracks 10, the hooks 56 embracing and slidably engagiug the side flanges 50, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The support ams 12 are firmly attached to the material platform portion 33 by driving nails through the holes 53 in the plates 52 or by any other suitable means. The ladder 11 is held securely in an upright position by the support arms 12 and provides a convenient access means to the work platform 13 at any adjusted height of the work platform 13 on tower 15.

As the wall 16 is constructed, the work platform 13 is adjusted to the appropriate level on tower 15 by manipulation of the winch handle 42 to raise the carriage 14. As the carriage 14 is raised, the hooks 56 forming the T- shaped slots 55 at the outer ends 54 of the support arms 12 slidably engage and ride on the associated T-shaped tracks 10, thereby maintaining operative connection between the tracks and support arms 12 at all times. Accordingly, the ladder ll can be conveniently utilized for access to the material platform portion 33 at any height of such platform portion. The support arms 12 and their operative sliding interconnection with the tracks 10 maintain the ladder 11 in the upright position. The carriage 14, and hence the work platform 13 can be raised or lowered to either the lower or upper limits on the tower 15 or to any desired level therebetween to satisfy the needs and requirements of the workmen utilizing the work platform 13. The support arms 12 slidably riding on and interconnected with the tracks 10 permit such height adjustment, maintain the ladder 11 in a vertical position, and maintain the ladder in position for use to gain access to the material platform portion before, during and after such height adjustment.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a scaffold:

(a) a support means,

(b) a work platform means movably mounted on and carried by the support means for height adjustment,

(c) means connected to the work platform means selectively raising or lowering the work platform means on the support means,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) access means supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform means, and

(f) means slidably interconnecting the access means and work platform means and rigidly attached to one of said latter two means to maintain connection between the work platform means and access means and to maintain access to the work platform means from the access means upon height adjustment of the work platform means on the support means.

2. In a scaffold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(c) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform, and

(f) means slidably interconnecting the ladder and work platform and rigidly attached to the work platform to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

3. In a scalfold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(0) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform,

(f) a track attached to and extending lengthwise of the ladder, and

(g) a cantilever support arm rigidly attached to and projecting from the work platform, the arm having means slidably interconnecting and riding on the track to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

4. In a scaffold:

(a) a upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(0) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the Work platform on the tower,

(cl) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform,

(f) means temporarily fixing the lower end of the ladder to the bottom support, and

(g) means slidably interconnecting the ladder and work platform and rigidly attached to the work platform to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder to support the ladder internally in an operative position relative to the work platform and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

5. In a scaffold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment.

(c) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform,

(f) a track attached to and extending lengthwise of the ladder, and

(g) a cantilever support arm rigidly but detachably secured to and projecting from the work platform to allow location or relocation of the arms wherever access to the work platform is desired, the arm having means slidably interconnecting and riding on the track to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder to support the ladder laterally in an operative position relative to the work platform and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

6. In a scaffold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(0) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform, the ladder including a pair of stringers with interconnecting rungs,

(f) an elongate track attached to each stringer and extending lengthwise of the ladder,

(g) means temporarily fixing the lower end of the ladder to the bottom support,

(h) a pair of cantilever support arms rigidly but detachably secured to and projecting from the work platform to allow location or relocation of the arms to wherever access to the work platform is required, and

(1) means slidably interconnecting the support arms to,

7. In a scaffold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(c) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform,

(f) a substantially T-shaped track attached to and extending lengthwise of the ladder, and

(g) a cantilever support arm rigidly attached to and projecting from the work platform, the arm having means embracing and slidably riding on the substantially T-shaped track to support the ladder laterally in an operative position relative to the work platform, to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder, and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

8. In a scaffold:

(a) an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(c) means connected to work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the tower,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform, the ladder including a pair of stringers with interconnecting rungs,

(f) an elongate track attached to each stringer and extending lengthwise of the ladder, the tracks including oppositely and laterally extending flanges,

(g) means temporarily fixing the lower end of the ladder to the bottom support,

(h) a pair of centilever support arms rigidly attached to and projecting from the work platform, and

(i) hook means on the support arms embracing and slidably engaging the side flanges of the tracks to support the ladder laterally in an operative position relative to the work platform, to maintain connection between the work platform and ladder, and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

9. In a scaffold:

(a). an upright tower,

(b) a work platform movably mounted on and carried by the tower for height adjustment,

(c) means connected to the work platform selectively raising or lowering the work platform on the support means,

(d) a bottom support,

(e) a ladder supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom support to a position adjacent the work platform,

(f) a substantially T-shaped track attached to and extending lengthwise of the ladder, and

(g) a cantilever support arm rigidly attached to and projecting from the work platform, the arm being provided with a substantially T-shaped slot in its free end into which the substantially T-shaped track slidably interfits to connect the ladder and work platform to support the ladder laterally in an operative position relative to the work platform, to maintain'connection between the work platform and ladder, and to maintain access to the work platform from the ladder upon height adjustment of the work platform on the tower.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,893 12/1885 Halterrnan 182146 485,463 11/1892 Ennis 182--132 2,725,125 11/1955 Morgen 182--132 3,050,047 8/1962 Burton 182--115 3,237,719 3/1966 Russell 182-103 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SCAFFOLD: (A) A SUPPORT MEANS, (B) A WORK PLATFORM MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON AND CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT MEANS FOR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT, (C) MEANS CONNECTED TO THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS SELECTIVELY RAISING OR LOWERING THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS ON THE SUPPORT MEANS, (D) A BOTTOM SUPPORT, (E) ACCESS MEANS SUPPORTED BY AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM SUPPORT TO A POSITION ADJACENT THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS, AND (F) MEANS SLIDABLY INTERCONNECTING THE ACCESS MEANS AND WORK PLATFORM MEANS AND RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID LATTER TWO MEANS TO MAINTAIN CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS AND ACCESS MEANS AND TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS FROM THE ACCESS MEANS UPON HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE WORK PLATFORM MEANS ON THE SUPPORT MEANS. 